Main Attractions

(*)Visit the Museo del Oro, with one of the best collections of pre-Spanish gold artwork.


(*)Go to the the Maloka Science Museum, famous for its Dome Theatre.


(*)Have some Colombian coffee at one of the nationally-renowned cafes in Hacienda Santa Barbara, a 19th century mansion turned mall.


(*)Take the funicular up to the top of Monserrat to get beautiful panoramic views of the city and enjoy some wonderful Colombian food. It can be quite cold at the top, so dont forget your jacket.


(*)Hang out in the main square of the Usaquen neighborhood, a cool new section of Bogota, with nice restaurants and bars and great people watching.

When to go

Dry and rainy seasons alternate in Bogota throughout the year. The rainy seasons, which can also get quite cold, are April and May, and Sept-Nov. June and July can also be quite rainy and August is sunny but windy. Your best bet for a visit is Dec-Mar, which are the driest months when the weather can be warm and quite pleasant.

How to get there

(bus) (taxi) If you're coming from your home country to Colombia, you'll fly into El Dorado Airport, from which inexpensive taxis can be taken into the city center, about a 15 minute ride. If coming from other cities in Colombia, cheap buses travel the country and arrive daily from all major cities into Bogota's Terminal de Transporte. Bus safety has improved a lot in recent years, but be careful with your belongings and avoid taking large sums of cash with you, as robberies have been known to occur along some routes.

Visa information

Travelers from the US, Israel, and most European countries do not need a visa to enter Colombia. A tourist visa will be stamped in your passport at the border, usually for between 30 and 60 days.

Tipping

In small restaurants a normal tip is COP 1000 or less. In nicer restaurants, wealthier Colombians tip around 10%, though more and more restaurants will add a ?service charge? onto your bill, in which case an added tip is neither expected nor required ? make sure to read your bill carefully. Taxi drivers do not receive tips. Hotel personnel generally do receive tips, depending on the service provided.